Hydraulic press accessory kit? Arbors, dowels, etc?

So I think I'm going to get the HF 20 ton press. I went today to check it out. However I was kinda surprised to find that they don't sell an accessory kit for it.

Ya know, a kit that comes with all sorts of different sized (length/diameter) dowels etc that you can then use to actually use the press to press things in/out with.

I know for smaller things I can use impact sockets, but what about larger wheel bearings etc? There must be a kit out there, right?

What are you guys using? The press is worthless to me if I don't have the bits I need to actually use it to press stuff in/out...

I have a variety of steel plate, bars, and pipes I use for pressing things in and out. Just random scrap I've accumulated through the years.

Thinking about a dimple set or finger brake for mine though.

Hmm, I don't have anything like that kicking around my garage. There's gotta be a set I can buy that's not a ton of cash tho, right?

Anyone have suggestions?

I have this set, that I bought before I got my press but has proven useful in conjunction with it as well

HF Wheel Bearing Adapters

I also just keep stuff like inner bearing races around, never know when they'll come in handy. I'm interested in some kind of kit as well but I've been pretty successful with whatever I happen to have laying around.

I don't know why, but I find it very amusing that that kit is almost as expensive as the entire 20 ton press!

In reply to docwyte:

Proof that not everything there is sold by weight!

There are similar kits on Amazon and such. You might be able to find one on CL too if you're patient.

RevRico wrote: I have a variety of steel plate, bars, and pipes I use for pressing things in and out. Just random scrap I've accumulated through the years. Thinking about a dimple set or finger brake for mine though.

I have done the same for my 12 ton press. I have cans filled with various size bits of round and flat steel and aluminum. I never throw anything out that I think I may use.

Cultivate a friendship with someone owning a small engine lathe, or buy one. That and a cutting torch. I have drawers full of fixtures for my 12 ton press mostly made with those two tools. Sockets and drive extensions are also good.

For modern wheel bearings you can make the outside driver with the old outer race, lightly grind the OD down so it will slip in.

Horror upon horrors, I usually use sockets. With sets from 1/4 through 3/4, they have covered every diameter I have needed so far.

Wear your safety glasses.

I have a variety of steel dowels in various lengths and diameters to use with the press, they also work as sockets.

I have the HF bearing press kit and it's pretty good. I give it a pass.

Added in are sockets up to 34mm and a few old wheel bearing cases.

Dave, the wheel bearing kit from HF?

The only thing I've ever bought for my press is a set of four or five sizes of dimple dies from Light Racing...I think they are sold as SPC Performance now. Save weight, add strength.

I often end up using my 12pt 3/4 inch socket set when pressing suspension bushings.

docwyte wrote: Dave, the wheel bearing kit from HF?

Older version of this one http://www.harborfreight.com/10-piece-bearing-race-and-seal-driver-set-63261.html

What others have said about small to large sockets, pipe, tubing, flat stock etc. Easy to scrounge industrial plants over the years for stuff ya might need later. Even my old engine machine shop buddy who been in business for decades doesn't have a bought press kit, all scrounged.

And what Toyman said... wear safety glasses.

Ok, looks like between that and picking up a HF 3/4" impact socket set I should have pretty much what I need to press things in and out.

Thanks guys.

Sorry for the threadjack, but I'm blaming Mezzanine :)

What size dimple dies do you normally use, or do you find yourself using all of them? I've been thinking of picking up a set. I'm in that "should I just buy one or two, or the whole set" area. I'm thinking that for $275, something like this (ebay link) would be the way to go.

In reply to WonkoTheSane: I've used the smallest ones numerous times...but never used the big ones.

If you're often fabricating things that have large sheet metal panels, you might use the bigger ones. If you're just making smaller stuff like brackets and gussets, then the small dies are all you need. Proper dimples add truly impressive amounts of rigidity to panels, and can really change how you design and fabricate.

The sizes I've used a number of times: .75", 1", and 1.5". I wish I had a .5", but it wasn't an option when I bought my set.

For what it is worth, I've used the larger dies for pressing stuff...but not for actually dimpling sheet.

Go to your local scrap yard and buy $25 worth of scrap that looks useful, or do like I do and snag stuff out of the scrap bins in the die build area at work.

assorted black iron pipe cutoffs work well. Old sockets work but they can explode. I had to pull shards of a 1" craftsman socket out of my shirt one day.

The bearing drift set is wonderful. Hit up Michaels for some wooden forms to make sheet metal patterns.

This topic is why I keep an eye out for a used press with a bunch of arbors. Anyone can go buy a cheap press from Harble Frate, but a dusty milk crate with 3 decades of arbors and implements is gold.

Mezzanine wrote: In reply to WonkoTheSane: I've used the smallest ones numerous times...but never used the big ones. If you're often fabricating things that have large sheet metal panels, you might use the bigger ones. If you're just making smaller stuff like brackets and gussets, then the small dies are all you need. Proper dimples add truly impressive amounts of rigidity to panels, and can really change how you design and fabricate. The sizes I've used a number of times: .75", 1", and 1.5". I wish I had a .5", but it wasn't an option when I bought my set. For what it is worth, I've used the larger dies for pressing stuff...but not for actually dimpling sheet.

Cool, thanks.. That's kinda what I expected, as I'd be using it for roll cage gusseting and such...

SAFETY GLASSES